Pineapple Express Impacts Eastern Pacific, California Set To See Impressive Precipitation! (Credit: Meteorologist Jessica Olsen)

Image Courtesy: WeatherTap

DISCUSSION: The Western US is set to experience another brutal pounding of consistent precipitation, some are calling over-zealous, but most are welcome to the increase in wet weather given California’s 5 year drought.
 
Precipitation is in the immediate forecast, in addition to the extended forecast past the 3 day mark. Current satellite indicating a large swath of moisture set to impact areas extending from southern Washington to as far west as Utah. A relatively deep upper level trough is to blame for the wet weather.
 
The increase in water will likely pose hazard conditions for local rivers and creeks into Saturday and Sunday. Areas of the Sierra foothills, Central Coast including the Bay area as the Pineapple Express makes its way into the overnight hours. The term Pineapple Express is characterized as a intense atmospheric flow associated with increased precipitation typically seen near the Hawaiian Islands transporting moisture to mainland United States.
 
Rainfall totals are expected to real 8-12 inches by Monday for Sonoma, Santa Cruz and Santa Lucia Ranges. Moderate precipitation is expected to begin tonight into Sunday, with some showers lingering into Monday. The Pacific coast will not go without some chance for precipitation as this moisture trend remains into the workweek.
 
~Meteorologist Jessica Olsen